Mike Dech

Background

About Mike Dech

Hello, my name is Mike Dech. I am a Zoological Professional with over two and a half decades of experience caring for a wide variety of taxa including birds, reptiles, and small terrestrial mammals but mostly with marine mammals, teleosts, and elasmobranchs. I have recently spent six years in a managerial role, overseeing the development of the staff that cares for those animals, their habitats, safety, diving operations, and guest programs. My current position is titled Senior Aquarist at The Seas at Disney’s Epcot. This coordinator-type role reports directly to the Zoological Managers and acts as a go between for them and the staff while also being an active member of daily operations. We support a massive, dynamic habitat with over 1,200 specimens. Behavioral and general husbandry, record keeping, and data collection are the major factors in our everyday work. From I was a Zoological Professional at the three Orlando SeaWorld parks: SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica. From 2017-2023, I was the Supervisor of Aquarium at Discovery Cove and Aquatica Orlando. While in that role, I was part of the management team that oversaw all aspects of animal training and husbandry, staff development, and the day to day operations of the Shark Swim, Ray Feed, and SeaVenture guest programs at The Grand Reef at Discovery Cove. The team also oversees the care and husbandry of the fish and aquarium systems at Aquatica. Prior to this role I spent seventeen years as an Animal Trainer at SeaWorld Orlando. In that time I was fortunate enough to work at Sea Lion and Otter Stadium, Whale and Dolphin, Shamu Stadium, Key West Dolphin Cove, and with the Animal Ambassadors. I worked as a part time Divemaster at The Seas at EPCOT from 2004-2018 where I was able to enhance my guest service skills as well as sharpen my underwater leadership abilities. In 2010 I became a NAUI certified SCUBA Instructor. I have since gone on to teach well over 100 basic, advanced, and leadership courses in Central and South Florida. I got my start at Miami Seaquarium where I worked as a Diver from 1997-1998 then an Animal Trainer from I gained a year of diverse animal experience at the original Parrot Jungle and Gardens from Since 2014 I have been the Southeastern Regional Reporter for the International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA). My responsibilities in this role include compiling, editing, and formatting the published updates from multiple zoological facilities for IMATA’s quarterly publication Soundings.